Government of Canada update on efforts to improve service to Military Veterans

CHARLOTTETOWN, July 16, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, joined by the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island and MP for Egmont, announced today that Veterans Affairs Canada is delivering on its commitment to service excellence by hiring 61 new employees at the Veterans Affairs Canada Headquarters in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to support the disability application and case management processes for Military Veterans and former members of the RCMP.

Thirty-three of the new employees (20 permanent and 13 temporary) will work on disability benefits applications. One permanent case manager will be hired in Charlottetown to dedicate more time and attention to meeting the individual needs of Military and RCMP Veterans living in P.E.I. Sixteen case management support staff will be hired to assist case managers across Canada. The remaining 11 employees will be hired to help support the process of hiring, training, and engaging the new employees.

The additional disability benefits staff will ensure there is more capacity to support Military Veterans who need help applying for disability benefits, 11 more adjudicators to make decisions, and more staff to process payments. This means Military Veterans will have faster access to disability benefits as well as health care funding and mental health treatment related to their disability.

Quick Facts

Veterans Affairs Canada provides disability benefits totalling about $2 billion a year to approximately 180,000 individuals, including Military Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces serving personnel, former RCMP, RCMP personnel and surviving family members.

Across Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada will hire 101 disability benefits staff, to be located in up to 16 locations across the country.

Veterans Affairs Canada will hire 167 new case managers across Canada to provide direct service to Veterans and their families.

It is expected most of the positions will be staffed by the end of March 2016.

Quote

"Hiring more staff to assist Military Veterans demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to service excellence when serving Military Veterans and former members of the RCMP. It is our duty to serve those who have served Canada and to treat Veterans with care, compassion and respect." The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs

"Ensuring that our Veterans and their families have the services and benefits they need and deserve is a priority for our Government. Prince Edward Islanders are extremely proud to serve our Veterans. These new positions will allow them to continue their tradition of excellence while having a very positive impact on the Island's economy." The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island and MP for Egmont